Chapter Thirteen POW!
Romeo
I didn’t wait for her to answer. I moved her back and away from the table.
The way she looked as if she felt frightened of this person we saw on the feed. It was obviously a woman. Not large or threatening.
“That didn’t give us anything to ID really,” Logan said. “But I have more frames to study. So with what Intel Wildcat and Keys give us on the Metairie, we will have what we need to go in.”
Talon nodded at him. “The convent may not be as hard of an infiltration, but the cemetery is a real problem. Too many things could go wrong.”
Logan nodded then looked over at Redemption and Glory. “Despite what Talon is saying, we will get him out safely. You have some of the best of the best men on this.”
They both nodded.
“I know this already,” Redemption replied. “I was right alongside all of these men….” He turned to look at his sister. “When you were held hostage, they simply ran over the enemy. I never saw such an easy takedown of such a large target.”
“Large?” Legend asked.
“He doesn’t mean me,” Glory defended as she shook her head and smiled.
“I know that, sweetness,” Legend replied as he reached over and took her hand.
“I mean a large number of men and a large house where she was being held like Connor was,” Redemption explained. “Then two victims inside. I did some military stints in my time. So I know an excellent commando team when I see one.”
“Yeah…” Talon nodded. “But we don’t want this V to flee. Deacon got away from Connor House before we even arrived.”
“How did that happen?” I asked.
Talon shrugged. “We still don’t know. It might have been a fluke? Maybe he happened to have some appointment that day?”
“Or, he somehow knew we were coming,” Liv suggested.
Redemption shook his head. “Who knows with that crazy asshole?”
“I have spoken with the man,” our father spoke up. “I don’t mean to excuse him, but he is highly intelligent, seems to keep his temper in check and he dresses like a CEO. In fact, his suits cost more than mine.” He chuckled.
“So he dresses nice, speaks well and pretends to be even tempered,” Liv said. “So that means he is reasonable? No, the man kidnaps people as a hobby and he likes to blow up families all at once. His mother murdered at least a hundred people that we know of.”
“Si, her crimes were infamous,” Stephano commented. “She did things even the Familia wouldn’t consider. But that doesn’t mean her son is not intelligent.”
“I agree, so I think we hit that convent first,” Redemption replied. “With our full force, we have the men to surround the convent on all sides.”
“Wait,” Julianna said as she walked back over. “Are you saying we don’t go to the Metairie at all?”
Redemption shrugged. “Logan has located one signal inside that crypt.”
“Yeah and so?” I asked him.
“Why would they leave Jarret there alone and do it a full ten hours before the trade off?” Redemption countered. “I think it’s a trap and I believe my dad is with this V at that convent.”
“It’s pretty risky,” Talon spoke up. “Storming the convent.”
“Not if we do it hours before the trade off time,” Julianna cut in. “And if Redemption is right… There is no need to endanger so many of you at that damn cemetery.”
We all again looked over at her.
Gone was the fearful look in her eyes. Replacing it was that determination she’d shown all morning. “I agree with Redemption. I think that the crypt meeting is a trap.”
“So we ignore it?” Glory asked her.
“No, but if we find your father at the convent we will know for sure, won’t we?” Julianna asked. “Then we have our men go into the Metairie shooting at will and not go in meekly with lives at risk.”
“Brillant,” I commented.
Julianna shook her head. “Not my plan but Talon’s. One of my professors had a favorite quote…To conquer a ruthless enemy, you must become ruthless.”
“Bravo!” my father exclaimed as he clapped his hands to give her applause. “This is why I hired you, Ms. Regatta.”
“But if we're wrong…” Her voice trailed away.
I stared at Julianna. First, she seemed to be brave, then full of doubt. She showed no fear then she looked scared. The woman I’d fallen for was a definite conundrum.
“You mean if that is my dad in the crypt at the Metairie?” Glory asked her.
Nodding, Julianna sighed. “But honestly, this is your decision…you and Redemption. “She glanced over at Talon. “I mean he’s large and in charge.” She laughed at his puzzled look. “But in the end, this is yours and Redemption’s father. So you both need to add your opinion of this plan.”
“Then there’s also this,” Logan said as he tapped his keyboard and typed some letters in.
We all leaned in again to try to see the screen.
“What is that?” Redemption asked Logan what I was wondering.
“It’s my infrared program and I now have it trained on the convent.”
Staring at it, we could see maybe ten signatures. Four up top in one room, two by the front entrance, two by the back exit. Then two in the lowest area, the basement.
“So, if my guess is correct…” Logan paused. “And I think it is.” He smirked. “Jarret is one of the two signatures in the basement part of the convent.”
“In the casket room,” Julianna whispered as she nodded.
I looked over at her and explained, “It would be a perfect place to keep him. Tie him up and place him in a casket. That would keep him contained.”
“He’s a large guy,” Redemption said. “So, yeah, keeping him subdued would be a task.”
I nodded at Logan. “I can see why they call you Ace.”
Logan shrugged.
“So…” Talon spoke up as he stared down at his phone. “My men are at the wall behind the mausoleum. They have located the tunnel and are inside. They are going to head over now in case there are issues…then wait for the signal. I have assembled a team that will come in through the front as the first strike team in the tunnel checks the basement. That way they have to fight our guys and not aid the basement man. We have about three hours until the trade time. Not that we will wait that long. I’m now setting the team up that will be at the crypt.” He studied the map that Logan just put up on a screen. “There’s a back way into the Metairie, it is a service route.” He tapped the line for that road. “We can access it from the alley. So when we are ready, we will have men coming in the back and the front.”
“Those men had better say their prayers,” Stephano spoke up.
“Say their Hail Marys and kiss their asses goodbye,” Dante quipped.
Talon looked up at Redemption. “Our sharp shooters will take care of the 3 or 4 sharpshooters they have. Then they will monitor the entrance.”
Taking his keys out, Redemption said, “I’m going to saddle up on my bike and head to this convent.”
“I’m coming with you,” Glory said as she raised her hand.
Talon looked back and forth at brother and sister and said, “Look, I know this is your dad, but you need to allow the team to do the extraction.”
Redemption raised his hands up. “Oh, I am. We’ve been down this road before Talon. I just want to be there when they bring Dad out.”
Glory nodded. “Legend and I will be around the corner, waiting, too. I promise we will wait for the whole thing to be finished. Girl Scout’s Honor.” She raised three fingers up at him.
“If I believed you were a Girl Scout, I might believe you.” Talon smirked and shook his head.
“Why wouldn’t you believe her?” Julianna asked.
Everyone paused to look over at her.
Legend was the one to answer this, “You just met Glory, so you might need a cliff note version of who Glory is.”
Redemption openly laughed at this statement.
Glory chuckled. “Oh, I can’t wait to hear this!”
“She always carries a weapon. And she has shot several men in her life with that weapon.” Legend paused to laugh at my stunned expression. “However, they did deserve it. She has fought at least a dozen more men and they did go to the hospital. If you tell her NOT to do something, she turns to immediately defy that order. She is bullheaded, opinionated, outspoken and a helluva card player.”
Glory spread her arms wide. “See? He really gets me.” She leaned closer to Legend and kissed his cheek with a playful smack of her lips.
Everyone laughed.
Talon shook his head. “I am fully aware of Glory’s tendency to be a true Walker. Like barreling in, weaponed up and taking aim. That’s why I am not keen on her being there.”
“I will keep her from the place,” Legend said. “Until we see Jarret come out safely.”
“Then I can beat the shit out of this V,” Glory said with a growl.
“I wanna be there too,” Julianna suddenly suggested.
The room fell silent.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I told her.
“Why not?” Julianna asked.
“Why though?” I argued. “You shouldn’t go there. It's dangerous, Julie.” I didn’t understand why she suddenly wanted to go.
“I will stay back, just like Glory and Legend.”
Talon shook his head and said, “Look Ms. Regatta, no disrespect but this isn’t theater. Where you can go for the entertainment value.”
Julianna paused and glared at him. “Entertainment?”
I bit my lip. “What the hell?” I knew she wasn’t like that. “That’s going too far, Talon.”
He shrugged.
“You will have to excuse my brother,” Liv spoke up. “He can be an arrogant asshole that speaks before he thinks.”
Julianna braced her hands on her hips as her glare remained on Talon. “I wasn’t retained as counsel for Mr. Descalia to be entertained.”
“I appreciate your ideas and I suppose I should apologize for that comment,” Talon backtracked a little. “However, we have enough people to look out for. That includes the team, Jarret and anyone nearby.” He turned his head to look at Glory and Legend.
Julianna still looked a bit angry as she released a sigh.
“So you are doing this right away?” I asked him.
“Yep,” Talon replied as he stared down at his cell phone. “In fact, I’m due at the convent. Keys is in charge of the cemetery mission. We will all have commlinks, so you can hear what goes on. Logan will have sat-feed on both missions.” He stalked out of the security room.
Julianna stared at the empty doorway and commented, “Damn, he is just so—”
“Aggravating?” Liv smirked as she described her brother. “Difficult?”
“The best at what he does,” Logan interjected. “Someone I would trust with my life and in fact, I have.”
“Yes, I have to say,” Redemption looked around at us. “He’s not gonna kiss your ass, but he gets it done.” He checked his gun and then gave Logan a nod.
“Hell yeah, he does,” Glory agreed. “I wouldn’t be here without his assholish ways.” She laughed.
“Maybe,” Julianna replied. “But what I was gonna say is he’s just so fucking punchable.”
Redemption laughed at her comment. “Oh yeah, there have been a few times when I just wanted to—”
“POW! Right in the kisser,” Julianna added.
“Bang, zoom, you’re going to the moon, Alice, to the moon,” I raised my fist. Again, we had more in common as she referred to the Honeymooners. Not many would even know who they were. Like they were on TV back in the 50’s. Let alone would most know the lines they used.
Redemption shook his head at our jokes, waved at us then strolled out of the room.
“Come on Legend,” Glory said as she checked her gun clip. “We gotta catch up to them.” She replaced her weapon inside her jacket then gave me a wink. Grabbing Legend’s hand, the couple hurried out.
“Wow,” Dante joked. “I hope she can protect him.”
Stephano snapped his gaze over at his son. “Legend doesn’t care about fighting, but he can fight.”
“Well, it looks like he doesn’t have to with her around.” Dante laughed.
“Exactly.” Julianna gave him a huge grin.
We all laughed.
Max showed up in the doorway. “Would anyone like afternoon tea? Bottled water or coffee?” He set a tray down on the main table by the couch.
Behind him was one of the young maids I avoided like the plague. She also held a tray and set it down. Fortunately, she had sense enough not to even look at me. It had to be because Max was present.
We went silent as we got our drinks then we sat down on the sofa and in the chairs. Now it would all play out on the monitors.
Ten silent minutes went by as we all sat quietly.
“Well, I hate to agree with Talon,” Dante said. “But this sort feels like entertainment?” He motioned at the couch and the chairs.
“Yeah, it sorta does,” Julianna admitted as she raised her teacup. “But I don’t think it would feel that way if we were there.”
“I’d rather have you here and safe,” I patted her thigh.
“I didn’t mean I would even be that close to the action, Romeo.”
“But you wanted to be there,” Stephano spoke up.
Julianna looked over at him.
He took a slow sip from his teacup and raised his eyebrow at her. We all knew that our father was helluva smart. He also had keen instincts, being who he was. Like a CEO that carried an AK47. Then sometimes, he was just an ass. Plain and simple.